FICTION

The Chinese New Year Helper

by Ying Chang Compestine (text) & illus. by Ginnie Hsu
Penguin/Rocky Pond. Dec. 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593534014.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2–“You are too young,” Jia’s family tells her as she tries to help prepare for Chinese New Year. She’s too young to prepare dumplings. Too young to carry the plates. And too young to light the lanterns. But Jia is determined to find a way to help, and when her moment arrives on the day of the lion dances, she roars into action. While the story starts with the predictable trope employed in many picture books featuring younger siblings, a fun plot twist in the middle gives the second half of the book a fresher feel. Vibrant, detailed illustrations carry much of the weight in the story and allow readers to experience the Chinese New Year preparations and festivities in a culturally intimate way. An author’s note on Chinese New Year and playful end pages completes the book.
VERDICT A solid Chinese New Year tale with delightful illustrations.
Reviewed by Mateal Ishihara , Dec 01, 2024

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